Bloomington Microloop

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Bloomington Micro-loop

The Bloomington Micro-loop is a quick ride that starts at the Bloomington trailhead for the Bearclaw Poppy trail. It features about 4 miles of nice narrow singletrack, then two miles on gravel road to close the loop. Total length is 6 miles. There's about 200 feet total elevation change. The singletrack is easier intermediate-technical.

Cholla cactus in a wash.

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The Microloop is designed to be ridden ONE WAY. But many riders use the westbound leg of the loop to connect to the Stucki Springs trail or to the Bearclaw Poppy trail, and ignore the return leg.

Start out like you're going to ride Bearclaw Poppy. Just after you pass the western corner of the fence around the flood basin (about 1/3 mile from the step-over gate), fork left when you see the "Bloomington Micro-loop" sign.

The Bearclaw Poppy trail and the Bloomington Microloop share this common trailhead. Photos January 14, 2010.

There will be some branching sucker trails. Most of them rejoin. In general, stay to the left and on what appears to be the main trail as you head northwest through the white desert soil. Don't make new trails, and try not to follow the branching alternate routes. Respect the cryptobiotic soil.

The trail parallels the Roller Coaster section of the Bearclaw Poppy, which is about 1/3 mile away. Some "cheater routes" forking to the north go to Bearclaw. In general, stay left when in doubt.

After about 1/2 mile, the trail will drop in to a wash. You'll follow the wash bottom a mile or so, still heading northwest.

The wash bottom is usually firm and smooth. No tire-sinking sand. In this spot, the wash breaks over stone slabs. The ledges are easy for experts; a bit of a challenge for beginners.

About two miles from the beginning of the loop, the trail climbs out of the wash. You're back on the familiar white clay, still heading northwest.

Bruce's Superfly 100 takes a rest in the wash.

Ignore any branching trails here. (Old routes persist a long time in the desert. If a trail has rocks piled on it, don't go there!) After a short distance on the white singletrack, you'll reach a clearly marked 4-way intersection. Straight ahead is the Stucki Springs trail; to the right is the connector to Bearclaw.

When you reach this spot, turn left. (We're looking straight -- northwest -- at the Stucki Springs trail.)

Turn left at the 4-way intersection. There should be a "Bloomington Microloop" sign here. Follow the singletrack down into the wash. The trail will head to the south, following the course of the wash.

View from a small ridge where the trail shortcuts across a small rise before re-entering the wash.

In several spots, you can either continue down the wash bottom, or follow the singletrack over shortcuts between goosenecks of the wash. The riding here is pretty easy. This is a good ride for beginners.

View as we ride the wash bottom.

After about a mile in the wash, you'll reach a gate at the edge of the Desert Preserve, where the wash opens up. Climb over the metal gate. (The step-over had been fenced off during my last visit, probably because idiots with light motorcycles were lifting them into the desert preserve.)

The singletrack exits and re-enters the wash multiple times.

Turn left on the gravel road (Curly Hollow Road) and head back to the Bloomington Trailhead. You'll spend about two miles on the dirt road.

Coordinates:
Mini-loop forks off Bearclaw Poppy: 37� 03.221' W 113� 37.508'
Intersection (4-way) with Stucki: 37� 04.156' W 113� 39.390'
Gate as singletrack hits Curly Hollow Road: 37� 03.435' W 113� 39.440'

Getting there: Go to the west end of Navajo Drive in Bloomington. Go across the cattle guard. See the low rail on the fence 100 feet to your right? That's the trailhead. N 37� 03.116' W 113� 37.362'. Start out on Bearclaw Poppy, and fork left on the mini-loop about 1/3 mile later.

Wide-area view showing microloop in lower right.
The loop can be extended by riding Stucki Springs.

Riding resources for the trails in this area:
Single-page riding guide: View to print
Larger detail map Stucki Springs loop: StuckiLoop.gif
Track files (to download, right-click and select "Save target as..."):
   Garmin Mapsource track files:
       Entire Area, Stucki Springs Long Loop, Stucki Springs Short Loop, Bearclaw, Bloomington Microloop
    National Geographic TOPO file of area: Stucki-Bearclaw-Bloomington
    Graphic exchange format (GPX, Topofusion) trail files:
       Stucki-Loop, Link-to-Stucki, Bearclaw, Bloomington Micro westbound, Bloomington return.
    Google Earth:
       Entire Area, Stucki Springs Long Loop, Stucki Springs Short Loop, Bearclaw, Bloomington Microloop
Lodging, camping, shops:
   Links to St. George area resources

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